Universal joint



J. G. BLUNT.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED nov, r4, 1919.

1,340,368. Patented May 1s, 1920.

WITNESSES am@ N (y JAMES G. BLUNT. 0F SCHENEC'IADY, NEW YORK.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Application filed November 14, 1919.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, Jniuics (i. BLUN'r, oi'Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Universal Joints, ofwhich improvement the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for imparting rotation from a driving to adriven shaft, with the capacity of relative. variation of one or bothshafts from a common axial line, and its object is to provide a univel-sal lioint of a. simple, compact` and inexpensive construction.which. in addition lo permitting relative angular variation of drivingand a driven shaft in connection with Which it is applied, .will enableeither of said shafts to be moved longitudinally. independently of theother, Without departure from its operative relation thereto.

l rllhe improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth:

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal central sectionthrough a universal joint embodying my invention.' Fig. 2, a side View.in ele ration, thereof, as seen from the right of Fig. 1 Fig. I, an enfiview, as seen from the top of Fig. l; Fig. l, a transverse section, onthe line n a of F ig. l; Fig. 5, a plan view of the inner member of thejoint: and, Figs. (i and T. side views. in elevation, thereof.

In the practice of my invention, referriacy descriptively to thespecific embodiment thereof which is herein exemplified, I secure uponeach of the adjacent ends of the two rotatory shafts, l and l", whichare to be connected, a coupling member, those of the two shafts being,respectively, of different construction, as will now be described.

The coupling member of one of the shafts, as the shaft, 1, which may betermedthe outer coupling member. comprisesY a sleeve or collar, 2,formed on one of the ends of the member, which tits around the end ofthe shaft` and is secured thereto by a bolt or key; an open ended caseor box, 2, of square transverse section, located at the opposite end ofthe member, the inner surfaces of the Walls of which case constitutebearings for an inner coupling member hereinafter described; andoutwardly curved legs of U form, which connect the sleeve and case, andspace them apart for such distance as will permit the application andre- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented M ay 1 8, 1,920.

Serial No. 337,967.

moval of the inner coupling member. ln the instance shown, the collar,2, is split on one side, and is clamped upon the shaft, l., by a bolt,2, let into the shaft, at a right angle thereto, and fitted with a nut,2, bearing on one end of the split portion of the collar. It will beobvious that, if preferred, the collar may be unbroken laterally, and besecured to the shaft by a key. or other suitable means.

The adjacent end oi' the other shaft, l, carries an inner couplingmember` il, whirh is secured upon it by a uut. 2in, and is in form whichwould be developed, in section, by the intersection, at a right angle,of two cylinders oi' similar diameters, v'. e., ofsquare transversesection, and having the surfaces of each pair of its opposite sides,curved cylindrieally upon a. radius struck from its middle point. Themember, 3, is of less depth than, and fits neatly within, the case, 2,of the coupling member of the shaft, l, and by reason of its form, ofthe curvature of its sides, and of the greater depth of the ease, itwill be seen that it has the capacity of both angular and longitudinalmovement. relatively to the case, 2, in which it is in closed.

In applications Where variation of angular relation of the connectedshafts in one plane only is required, the wiaipling meinber, 3, may haveonly one pair of its opposite sides cylindrically curved. the otherbeing plane, and the member being thus a section developed from a singlecylinder.

In the operation of the appliance, the coupling member, 3. of the shaft,la, being, as above stated, free to move angularly. relatively to thecase, 2a, of the coupling member of the other shaft, the coupled shaftswill have the same capacity of relative angular movement, and thebearing surfaces of the coupling members being of suflicient length toremain in contact in different relative longitudinal positions of theshafts, lon itudinal movement of one or both of sai shafts is therebypermitted.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

In a universal joint connection for a driving and a driven shaft, thecombination of an outer couplin member, comprising a sleeve, at one enadapted for connection to one of the shafts, an open-ended case ofsquare section, at the other end, and con- .meeting legs, bridgimr espace between the lSleeve und case; und an inner coupling member,secured, (letaehebly, on the other Sheff; :unl nserlble :md` removablethrough seid Space, said ll'xelnher being of less depth or axial extentthan the euse of the outer eeuplllg member, :md having vylindrienllycurved lateral feces, fitting tzmgentally on the bearing faves thereof.

J. Hmmm) W AGAR.

